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Parents' Page
Our Mission
The Kids’ Nite Out Across America® program was founded in
1991 in Westminster, Colorado with a simple mission: Provide parents
with a safe environment where their children ages 8 to 14 can
participate in an exciting age-appropriate program, keeping them
active, and allow them to have fun!
Today that mission still applies. Each month, we serve over 15,000 kids –
and, with our nationwide expansion, that number is growing rapidly! We
provide an active, community-positive program for children that is
supervised by caring adults.
Our Program
A Kids’ Nite Out Across America® program is a partnership
between a community facility (recreation center, YMCA, JCC, school,
church, etc.) and a Kids’ Nite Out Across America®
franchisee. Our programs usually run from 7 pm to 10:30 pm on either
Friday or Saturday nights throughout the school year and are open to
kids ages 8 to 14. Admission at most locations is between $10-$15 per
child, and kids may purchase food, beverages and snacks.
We have a wide variety of activities for kids to choose from, with most taking place in the gym area and in the dance room.
In the gym, we run games and contests like basketball, scooter hockey,
dodgeball, lacrosse, soccer, kickball, football, and relay races. We
also have inflatables, which can include a bounce house, a giant slide,
a human slingshot, or an obstacle course.
In the dance room, the kids can cut loose to their favorite songs. Disc
jockeys are hired and trained and play only music that has been
pre-approved, edited, and deemed appropriate. The DJ runs dance
contests and games throughout the night to encourage the kids to
participate.
If a facility has an indoor pool, two hours of each night may be used
for swimming and water games. We hire lifeguards to keep everyone safe
while our counselors get the kids involved in various water game and
activities.
One of the highlights of every Kids’ Nite Out Across America®
program is the opportunity to win prizes or candy cards. These cards
may be given for participating in games and contests, showing good
sportsmanship, answering trivia questions, or for just being in the
right place at the right time!
Safety
It’s great to see kids being active and having fun with their
friends. While their enjoyment is very important, what’s even
more important is their safety while in the Kids’ Nite Out Across
America® program.
All of our counselors are subjected to a criminal and sex-offender
background check prior to being hired and trained. Our program include
providing a maximum staffing ratio of 20:1 (kids to counselors), and
having a uniformed police officer on duty at all times.
Community, Pediatrician and Parent Endorsement
Schools and city councils have given their support to the Kids’ Nite Out Across America®
program. Community leaders agree that there are few social
opportunities for the 8 to 14 year old age group, and our program is
designed to meet that need.
Pediatricians find value in programs that promote physical activity.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “regular
physical activity should be protected within families, schools, and
communities.”* At Kids’ Nite Out Across America®,
we find fun ways to keep kids active. Whether they’re playing
dodgeball in the gym, dancing to their favorite tunes, or playing water
games, they’re getting the exercise they need with the excitement
and variety that they want. And – through our random trivia games
– we even help them exercise their brains!
Finally, parents praise the program for many reasons. They feel
reassured that their children will be in a safe, secure environment and
also enjoy the fact that their kids will be involved all evening,
getting the exercise and social interaction that they need. And last,
but not least, parents get a night out of their own!
*From Prevention of Pediatric Overweight and Obesity, Pediatrics. 2003;112:424-430
TESTIMONIALS:
“Kids’ Nite Out Across America® is a
fantastic program for kids! My two boys have both been attending KNO
for the past two years and can’t get enough of it! They get a fun
night out with their friends each weekend and feel so grown up without
me or my husband around. I love it because I know that they will be
safe and will have a great time, and I get a night out too! Thank
you!”
- Mrs. Patricia Crowley
Lakewood, Colorado
“…I
feel that having this program offered in any community is an asset. It
provides healthy activities for the kids and allows them to interact
with children their own age…..I would strongly recommend any
community who does not have a Kids’ Nite Out Across America® program to investigate on how to bring it to their own town or city. It is a win-win situation for everyone involved!”
- Michelle Ellerman
Police Officer
Boulder, Colorado
*Please note: KNOAA is not a child care provider, but is a drop-in event program*
To learn more about our program, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions.
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